WestConn welcomes record student body for new year

By Eileen FitzGerald, Staff writer

Published
1:39 am EDT, Tuesday, September 1, 2009

New students and parents watch the procession during the Opening Ceremony in Ives Auditorium on the WCSU downtown campus on Aug. 28,2009. Seated center, left of procession is Kristi Marie Parille of New Fairfield and right of the procession is Nicholas Dunn of Danbury, both members of the class of 2013. less

New students and parents watch the procession during the Opening Ceremony in Ives Auditorium on the WCSU downtown campus on Aug. 28,2009. Seated center, left of procession is Kristi Marie Parille of New ... more

New students and parents watch the procession during the Opening Ceremony in Ives Auditorium on the WCSU downtown campus on Aug. 28,2009. Seated center, left of procession is Kristi Marie Parille of New Fairfield and right of the procession is Nicholas Dunn of Danbury, both members of the class of 2013. less

New students and parents watch the procession during the Opening Ceremony in Ives Auditorium on the WCSU downtown campus on Aug. 28,2009. Seated center, left of procession is Kristi Marie Parille of New ... more

They heard words of advice from top administrators as the Danbury university prepared to begin classes Monday for its largest pool of students in history.

Lauren Bergren, an 18-year-old freshman from Berlin, wore a new WestConn T-shirt she got Friday with a coupon the school gave her.

It was apparent why she got it immediately.

"I'm excited to start college," she said.

WestConn was close to home and had all the things she wanted, including biology education, Bergren said. "It was the best fit."

Janet Spielman of Burlington and her daughter, Julie, listened to the new student orientation.

"It's very exciting. It's been very smooth,'' Janet Spielman said. "The drive here was apprehensive, but once we got here they've been helpful."

Eighteen-year-olds Julie Spielman and her new roommate, Jillian Weneck, of Vernon, linked up on Facebook before arriving at school and met for the first time Friday. They both looked forward to starting college.

"I love the way the campus looks and all the people seem nice,'' Julie Spielman said.

WestConn has 1,000 freshmen and 500 transfer students that pushed the full-time undergraduate enrollment to 4,830 this fall. It's an increase of 5 percent over last year, which was 5 percent over the year before.

WestConn mirrors the rest of the Connecticut State University System, which also includes Central, Eastern and Southern, with a record number of students, a preliminary estimate of 36,000 students that will be finalized in mid-September.

One reason is larger freshman classes, which have a jump of 11 percent in applications, the largest-ever one-year increase in the number of applications across the system. It also includes an increase in transfer students, and more students staying in school.

Education professor Marcia Delcourt urged the students to begin to think about a vision of their future.

"Don't worry if your ideas are fuzzy or change over time," she said. "Just keeping at it and make it your own."

WestConn president James Schmotter told the students they could feel overwhelmed but to remember to take one step at a time and get to know the university.

"This is not a sprint,'' he said.

He told the parents and students the campus was safe and also was prepared to deal with H1N1 swine flu virus. According to the CDC, the rate of reported cases was highest among the age group 5 to 24 years.

All four regional state universities have increased the availability of hand sanitizers and disposable antibacterial wipes throughout the campuses, and have provided flu-specific information to residence hall staff.

In addition, students, parents, faculty and staff are receiving information from university officials in letters or e-mails that outline preparations and precautions, including the CDC recommendation that ill students be taken home whenever possible.

The state university system has had to face budget cuts, that, combined by voluntary cutbacks and early retirements, have reduced the faculty and staff by nearly 200 people. The CSUS Board of Trustees froze salaries for non-union personnel and implemented a 10 percent reduction in those positions. A hiring freeze also has been in effect for all but a limited number of essential positions who deal with health and safety of students and provide instruction.

"We have had to make some tough economic decisions in the last year, but we put the student first," Schmotter said.

He reminded students to go to class, to get to know a professor outside of class, and get involved in an activity.